Etymology Explorer › Faroese

Where does “Norðurírland” come from?

Norðurírland (Faroese) comes from Faroese Írland, from Old Norse Írland, from Old Norse Írar, from Old Irish Ériu, from Primitive Irish *Īweriū, from Proto-Celtic Φīweryū, from Proto-Indo-European piHweryon-, from Proto-Indo-European peyH- — fat, milk.

Ancestry of “Norðurírland”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1FaroeseÍrlandIreland
2Old NorseÍrland—
3Old NorseÍrarIrishmen
4Old IrishÉriuIreland
5Primitive Irish*Īweriū—
6Proto-CelticΦīweryū—
7Proto-Indo-EuropeanpiHweryon-—
8Proto-Indo-EuropeanpeyH-fat, milk
Every word from Proto-Indo-European peyH- →